by Nathan Roden
Two policemen sliced their way through the crowd. A zoo employee hurried behind them, carrying a rifle loaded with a tranquilizer dart. One of the policemen drew his pistol and fired it once into the air.
The bears retreated to their cave.
The policemen and three zoo employees entered the exhibit and carried Cedric to safety. Paramedics arrived. They checked out Cedric’s injuries and hurried him to an ambulance.
The police, zoo employees, and several other adults hugged and comforted the children. The screaming turned into the sounds of anguish and weeping. A wash of different voices buzzed from dozens of people who had no idea what had just happened.
A solitary scream quieted the crowd.
A trembling girl pointed at Tara.
“It was her! I saw her! She did it! She did this to Cedric! She’s a….she’s a witch!”
More police arrived. Two officers escorted the screaming girl away from the others. People in the crowd stared at Tara. All they saw was a pretty little girl who was not hysterical—unlike the other children.
Those same people thought differently four hours later—when the video went live on the internet.
The video captured Tara Jamison from a considerable distance. She appeared for only a few brief seconds. But there was no mistaking that something unusual had occurred.
An aura of light surrounded Tara’s head. Her hair stood out from her head. Visible bursts of electricity crackled around her. The whites of her eyes blazed with energy.
The video disappeared after pressure came from an unknown source. But it was too little, too late. Duplicates were made and the video resurfaced in different places like tiny grass fires. Before those were eliminated, some parents of the children from the field trip saw the video.
The following morning, Tara turned down the hallway to her first class. Four school faculty members blocked her way. They escorted Tara to the office.
“What is this about?” Tara asked.
“Your parents will join us shortly, Miss Jamison,” an administrator answered. “I’m afraid that there are some concerns about the incident during Friday’s field trip.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Tara asked.
The three men and one woman looked to each other for support but found none.
“Let’s just wait until your parents arrive, dear,” the woman said. “I believe we can clear up this matter without much ado.”
Anger flashed across Tara’s face.
“I had nothing to do with what happened!” she said sharply.
A large framed picture of a championship football team fell from the wall. The glass shattered and the frame broke into pieces.
The four school officials jumped. They stepped away from Tara.
“Y-y-your parents should be arriving any moment,” the woman struggled to say.
Tara stared out of the back window of her parents’ car. It was early, but her school day was over.
Robert and Emily Jamison had little to say. They also had little to say when the school administrators issued them an ultimatum. Due to pressure from concerned parents, Tara could not return to school until she received a psychiatric evaluation.
“Tara,” Robert began,
“You don’t have to say it,” Tara said. “We’re moving again.”
Robert looked at Tara in the rear-view mirror.
“Not this time, Baby,” he said.
“You’re not going to allow them to blame me for what happened!” Tara shrieked.
“They’re not blaming you,” Emily said. “They are only asking—”
“They’re not asking anything!” Tara shouted. “They think I’m insane!”
“They have a school full of children to think about, Tara,” Robert said.
“Why can’t we just leave?” Tara asked. “We certainly have no problem jumping whenever the army says so!”
“It’s not the same thing, Honey,” Emily said.
“You’re right, Mother,” Tara said. “And you won’t have to worry about moving me again.”
“What are you talking about?” Robert asked.
Tara stared out of the window again.
“They’re going to put me away,” she whispered.
Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Freebies
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
More from Nathan
About the Author
Sneak Peek at Wylie Westerhouse Book 3
